Is There A CORRECT Way To Learn TECHNIQUE On Guitar?

[@brandonfranklin4533]

I've been playing for 22 years and I agree completely. I never bothered learning the caged system. I used to play 3nps scales with my ring finger in the beginning but eventually I came around to the middle finger. It really does make a huge difference. Also directional picking is superior to strict alternate picking as long as single notes are being played.

[@legendmaker694]

I'm a self-taught guitarist and there are lots of things in my playing that typically count as bad habits from a technical perspective. I've been playing this way for three decades and those things only occurred to me in the past few years from watching channels like yours on KZbin, though. I've tried adjusting some of my bad habits to the "right" way, but in a few areas where I managed to do this consistently (past the awkward re-adaptation phase) I find it changes how I sound and makes it more "generic" to my ears this way. Some of these habits definitely hold me back in some areas, though. I'm a bit torn on what is worth unlearning and training myself to do the more efficient way and what's not worth the tradeoff. It's a bit of a balancing act I guess. One important thing is I've been playing on acoustic guitars almost exclusively until just a few years ago. Switching to electric (though I still play both) made me notice a lot of differences I didn't anticipate. It's one of the reasons I started questioning my technique, actually. Anyways, I completely see what you mean, and I don't disagree. If I could go back, I think I would make the effort to get the good habits right away. ^^ Thanks for all your interesting content and enthusiasm, by the way.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Middle or ring finger? Both. I agree it's the easier stretch. But it all depends one what you're going to do next. I tried the single method of using one or the other only. Spent time using both ways by themselves, and that later turned out to apparently be the best. I'm just saying don't get locked into any particular fingering. That was a bad habit that I broke by transcribing a lot of violin solos. It's like the thinking that ones first finger must always be the "anchor" finger. But that makes shifting that finger back to grab other notes something a person may not even think of because they are being too rigid with their technique. For me discovering that one thing alone was a revelation that greatly increased what I could play. Some things just work better, and sometimes other things work better. Typically having ones fret fingers pointing at the fretboard is best. But there are times when we flatten them out to muffle strings, barre frets, or perhaps use a certain style of vibrato, etc. The not playing scales wish (because that's all it is: _I wish I didn't need to learn how it's done),_ is the same idea imo. That also limits what a person can play, to just playing chords, intervals, and triads. No pentatonic scales, no diatonic scales, and no chromatic scales, etc. The caged system is the same. A person doesn't learn any scales that way, and only a few basic chords. Learn each of them and you can play more stuff. Learn only one or a some, and you cannot play as much stuff. Simple. Regardless, I always appreciate your lessons. And even after having given lessons myself for 4 decades, I still get to learn new stuff because of you and other great teachers. Keep being you, and enjoy! 😊

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Is my comment hidden? I was very polite, and just carefully explained some good reasons to not limit oneself to a certain fingering for everything.

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

YT hides some comments automatically. No idea on the exact criteria. I did un-hide it (like I do for all the non-spam comments).

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

Or at least I think it's un-hidden now. If it looks different on your side, let me know. YT is strange sometimes on these things (The problem is that if I take out the filter completely, then we are submerged by spam...)

[@marioreznik3654]

This is a modern steel string guitar conundrum ( electric or otherwise). Technique is technique and only varies in nuance, and it always has economy of movement at its root, not opinion. And at 6:25 the word "sane" is a translation from Italian, meaning healthy, but in English, it relates to a state of mind. Insanity, on the other hand, is hearing another argument on a conjured system that is as arbitrary as ..............that'll do.

[@davidlouis2354]

i like the way you have scalloped your guitar, makes so much more sense. i have done the same.

[@jaywiliams5835]

Regarding which finger: seems like the trick is to practice and be facile with both and then play whatever comes naturally in the moment. Other technique musts for me: keeping the fretting hand close to the fretboard compared to a flying pinky etc. Also the classical technique of keeping a note fretted until you need to move the finger is also important for any fingerpicking technique. All this IMHO. Thank you Tommaso for all your videos!!!

[@brandex2011]

I have always said that if you can make the sound you want to hear, it doesn't matter if you play with your elbows. The astounding Rory Hoffman is the pinnacle of an example of my statement.

[@R0ckerb0y]

30 years ago I got my ring finger shut in a door, breaking a lobe off the end knuckle. This ultimately forced me to play with index/middle/pinky for 5 weeks while the ring finger healed. It was an effective way to “break” that habit for me. Site note… we auditioned a new drummer the day I broke that finger and played Metallica tunes for 9 hours that day, and I spent the next 5 weeks practicing with my band before I finally went to the doctor to get it X-Rayed… the doctor told me it looked like I broke it that day… so I spent 5 weeks keeping my finger freshly broken by playing with it. That’s dedication. 😂

[@christopherheckman7957]

(1) Here's another indication that the ring finger is weaker than the rest. Place your hand flat on a table (or some other surface). Curl up all of your fingers except your index finger, and keep the tip of your index finger on the table; it should look like you're pointing at something. Now lift the index finger. Easy, huh? (Well, for most people, anyway ...) Repeat with the other fingers (all fingers curled except for the middle finger, etc) and you'll find that the ring finger is the hardest one to lift. (2) 5:24 "If you are already famous ..." Has anyone famous contacted you after watching one of your videos? (3) I suppose you cringe when someone even mentions using their thumb on the 6th string ...

[@JereToikka]

I can stretch both my pinky+ring finger and index+middle finger to pretty much a 90 degree angle (or π/2 if you want). But the span is much longer with index+middle since the fingers are longer. :)

[@igorperic5232]

how to develope speed on certain technique for example alternate picking or pami tremolo?

[@azmiarman]

Hi..can u make a tutorial on chord melody...tq

[@listopadoff]

I guess it's time someone starts an academic Journal of Pinky Frivolities

[@randydean23]

Okay_ not trying to start a flame war, but I am pretty sure the "C.A.G.E.D." system was or is a system intended for those whom have been playing for a considerably long amount of time already and are super familiar with their "cowboy chords" and therefore it helps to streamline them into a greater understanding of their chords and arpeggios up and down the fret board in all twelve keys without having to try and start from scratch. In other words _ depending on how things have developed and where a player is on their road to fretboard understanding the CAGED system is regarded as a FastTrack, but I don't think any of its proponents are or should be suggesting it as the first, correct, or most effecient way of learning the fretboard layout. Rather I believe it is intended and mostly something that is used and taught by those who had spent a good deal if not most of their years on guitar as self taught musicians that had developed several [perhaps] not the best habits in that time but who were at least intimately familiar with the open chords in first position. I may be wrong, but that's been my understanding

[@jaywiliams5835]

Sounds right to me. A first step to understanding the whole fretboard but missing the knowledge of which is the root third fifth etc which is crucial for advanced playing

[@Stemma3]

"Ask any piano player" I agree

[@michaelhummer6979]

So say my left middle finger is not functional at all, how can i compensate for that sinario on my guitar?

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

That's a LONG answer. It depends on what exactly happened to your finger, if there is any partial functionality left on that finger, how much functionality you have on the other fingers, how much time/energy you want to put into this, what are your exact goals on guitar, how much you can compromise on other variables (string gauge, tuning, instruments kind and scale...). Not something I can answer here.

[@michaelhummer6979]

@@MusicTheoryForGuitar the fact is I had cancer on my left middle finger, after having Moh's surgery where they take the cancer out and save the finger. That was a success. However , It is not healed enough for playing the guitar. So in the meantime I have comprimized my playing style to not use that finger at all. At the time they considered taking off the first digit of that finger so iI figured i had to adapt for the loss. Now after the surgery iI find that my playing as good as it was has only improved in these last few months. So for me it does work. But i do agree with your theories . my finger needs more surgery to make it to where it will not be on the bone as much. Also I want to thank you for responding to my question

[@zolibxl]

Django says: "I can't relate, but Tommaso is still right about the middle finger."

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

When I teach people with missing fingers (which DOES happen) then of course we need to figure out what is best for them on a case-by-case basis :) Django soloing and chording is a whole textbook on how to make what he has work for him.

[@christopherheckman7957]

@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Hound Dog Taylor had an *extra* finger. However, polydactylism doesn't usually help musically; the extra finger usually can't move.

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

@@christopherheckman7957 I didn't know that. Thanks!

[@bbfeign1]

brill

[@hglundahl]

Gives the follow up question : is it wrong (technically speaking) to recommend Open String Chords and arpeggi for beginners given that Burl Ives found this an easy style to learn - and teach. I would say no. It is a quick way to learn a style which will sound not bad, even good. Say I who have never played one piece on guitar (the chords for Tom Dooley, OK, one ...)

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

I've found it best to learn as many different techniques as possible (as long as it doesn't cause injuries, witch are easy to cause). That way you not only find out things like how Tommaso is correct that the middle finger does tend to be stronger. But when it's called for, you can use the ring finger adeptly as well. There are times when that will make more sense depending on where you're coming from, or going to. Then you can play more economically.

[@hglundahl]

@@aylbdrmadison1051 Thank you. My concern was actually for the advice I gave myself ... without actually playing the guitar. If you have some moments to spare, take a look at the blog "musicalia" with the active url part "hglundahlsmusik" and the posts "What are Open String Chords?" · "Arpeggi Jumping One String" · "Summing Up the Use" · "Why Burl Ives Didn't Give Chords for All Keys" of which the last is now top of the posts on that blog!

[@metalpuppet5798]

Your ring and little finger are using the same tendon (I think thats the right word here). Thats why it will always be harder to move them independently. My guitar teacher taught me from day one to instead use middle and ring finger wherever possible. Hes absolutely right. Why train independence for years on fingers that just arent gonna get truly independent because anatomically its impossible?

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

I thought it was the ring and pinky that share the same tendon. I suppose I could be wrong, but hose two are definitely the only ones I struggle with moving independently. In any case, they can all eventually be trained to move independently. I'm okay at that now because of much practice. But there are those who have total independence over them.

[@metalpuppet5798]

@@aylbdrmadison1051 I am stupid. Of course I meant that xD

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

Well, no two fingers actually share a tendon. Some have more independence than others (anatomically speaking), though some (correct) training can do miracles in making these fingers way more versatile than you'd expect at first.

[@MARLONdaman]

I CAN SEE SEVERAL COURSES ON CHORDS, SCALES, INTERVALS HE COULD TEACH. OLE DUDE ON THAT “TOM HESS” FRAME OF THOUGHT IN MARKETING AND VIDEOS! HAVE RESEARCHED HIM!👈🏿👀

[@miikayak]

What about some love-mail? ;)

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

I receive that gladly :-)

[@udayanmustafi3963]

🎸

[@foljs5858]

wtf does he say in the start of every video? hello internauts? hello internet?

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

Hello, internet, so nice to see you! Yes, even you. WTF ;-)

[@anthonyjourneymusic]

This video DOES NOT apply to anyone that uses the guitar to write songs.

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

It applies to them even more.